Anonymous asked: Do you think writing needs actual real life experience? Do you need to fully experience something from beginning to end to write a deep story about it? For instance, I want to write a story about a person battling depression, but then again, I’ve never got over depression myself, therefore, I get stuck trying to figure out how the story ends or give some sort of closure to the story. Any advice?

I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again: I’ve never died, but I’ve written a death scene. I’ve never waved a magic wand or dueled a dragon or gone to Mars, but I can write about it. Why is that? Imagination and research.

• Do research. Lots and lots of research. Research depression medically. Learn about the mechanics of it. Read some books or testimonials on what it’s been like for others to battle and overcome depression. Read every article with “Depression” in the title. Research until your bored with research, until you can recite warning signs and prescription medications and how-tos verbatim. Learn all you can.
• Use your imagination. With all of this research in mind, how do you imagine it would be for your character to overcome his or her depression? Their case will be unique, but you can draw from what you’ve learned to make good predictions about how your character will pull out of their depression. Will friends and family help them? Travel? Success? Ritual Murder? Prescription pills? 

Then again, perhaps your character doesn’t get over it. Maybe your story is a happy ending despite the character’s depression, or a tragedy as the character succumbs to their depression. In either case, depression will still add significant amounts of conflict the the narrative. It’s up to you.

Research and imagination. If you have both, you’ve got the means to finish your story (and to kick your own depression in the tenders, by the way).

Thank you for your question!